Gülenist Terror Organization (FETÖ) loses financial support

finance branch of the Gülenist Terror Organization (FETÖ which has tried attacking the Turkish economy, has suffered by losing its supporters. While schools and dorms of the organization are being closed down one by one, support for the organization within the business world is now also faltering. After raids on 15 associations that are members of the Turkish Businessmen and Industrialists’ Confederation (TUSKON) as part of an investigation into FETÖ, various members are withdrawing from the confederation.

According to Hazal Ateş from the reliable and high-circulation newspaper Sabah Daily; following the Boydak Group, various businessmen are parting ways with FETÖ. Since the Dec. 17 and Dec. 25 operations, in an attempt to overthrow the government, 600 businessmen have resigned from TUSKON. With the cooperation by the Prime Ministry, Treasury, the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) and Capital Markets Board (SPK) new information regarding the finance network established by FETÖ has been reveled and the companies and associations that support the FETÖ are being subject to investigations for national security. Foreign connections and lobbying activities against Turkey and fund movements of member firms are all under the radar now. More raids and investigations are expected to take place in Kayseri and Denizli after İzmir, Uşak, Bursa and Ankara.

TUSKON, described as an umbrella organization of FETÖ in the business world, keeps losing members after the operations. Various businessmen, including members of the Bursa Entrepreneur Businessmen Association and Kocaeli Active Industrialists and Businessmen Association, have submitted resignation letters to TUSKON. The chairman of the executive board of Akel Eşarp, Emin Akça; the president of Yılmaz Companies Group, Aydın Yılmaz; Üçkollar Yapı Dekorasyon’s General Manager Sıdık Üçkollar, and the CEO of Tezyaparlar Tekstil, Orhan Tezyaparlar are among those who have resigned from the association.

Bank Asya – a bank affiliated with the movement – was taken over by the Saving Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) six months ago, yet around 20 partners still have not provided the documents required of them. Many deficiencies and errors have been detected in the documents delivered. The organization continues striving to slow down and hinder the examinations and investigations, suppress public employees and pressure the media through million-dollar lawsuits.

It had been revealed that associations connected to the organization have been collecting donations under various titles such as aid, scholarships and “zakat.” Whether these funds have been transferred to the organization will be examined. Those that have collected such funds may be charged with aiding and abetting. With the operations carried out by security and financial units, the transfer of these funds abroad will be prevented. Whether these funds have been deducted from taxable profits will also be investigated. It is suspected that the funds collected without issuing any receipts have not been recorded in the books of related companies and associations and have been transferred abroad by the members of the organizations. The benefactors of these associations might also be fined.

Public examination boards and associations such as BDDK and MASAK might also force critical reorganization in order to remove bureaucrats that are trying to slow down operations into FETÖ.

A special team organized at Police Headquarters is working to disclose all dubious monetary transfers of the organization and it was determined that transfers were carried out through shell companies. It was further revealed that the organization has been applying pressure on the business world and fining companies through its members who work in various state institutions.